Little Angel

Chapter 11

Short chapter but it's just a filler! Hope you enjoy it

The morning after the storm, the basement was unusually quiet. The low hum of the humidifier and the occasional rustle of blankets were the only sounds. The storm had passed, leaving behind an eerie stillness that made it hard to tell what time it was.

Lucas stirred first, his back pressed uncomfortably against the armrest of the old couch. He blinked at the dim light filtering through the small basement window, his arms still cradling Ella, who was curled up in his lap. Her tiny hand clutched her stuffed dog tightly, her chest rising and falling in soft, even breaths.

"Morning already?" Aiden mumbled from the other couch, his voice groggy. He sat up, stretching until his shoulders cracked.

"Shh," Lucas whispered, glancing down at Ella. "She just fell back asleep."

Aiden nodded, rubbing his face. "How's everyone holding up?"

Xander and Xavier, who had been sprawled across bean bag chairs, groaned in unison. "Terrible," Xander grumbled, sitting up and rubbing his neck. "I think I slept on a rock."

"That's called a bean bag, genius," Xavier retorted, yawning and pulling a blanket off his legs.

Noah was the last to wake, his head lolling off the side of the couch. "I don't even remember falling asleep," he said, blinking blearily.

Lucas chuckled softly. "That's what exhaustion does to you."

Ella stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at Lucas with sleepy confusion. "Is the storm gone?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas nodded, smoothing her messy hair. "It's gone, little one. You're safe."

Ella stretched her arms out, her stuffed dog still firmly in her grasp. "Can we go upstairs now?" she asked, her big eyes glancing toward the stairs.

Lucas hesitated. "Let's check things out first, okay? Stay here with the twins for now."

The older brothers ascended the stairs cautiously, bracing themselves for what awaited them. The living room was dimly lit, but even in the faint light, they could see the storm's aftermath. Branches and leaves were scattered across the porch outside, and a window near the dining area had a noticeable crack running through it.

"Looks like we got lucky," Noah said, peering out the window. "Could've been worse."

"Water in the kitchen," Aiden called out, stepping carefully to avoid the small puddle near the sink. "Probably from that leak, we've been ignoring."

Lucas rubbed his temples. "Alright, let's get started. Noah, grab the mop. Aiden, see if we've got duct tape for the window. I'll check the yard."

Noah gave a mock salute. "Yes, sir."

Downstairs, the twins were doing their best to entertain Ella. Xander had taken one of the flashlights and was creating shadow puppets on the wall. "Look, it's a bunny!" he exclaimed, moving his fingers to make a hopping shadow.

Ella giggled, her earlier unease melting away. "Do a dinosaur next!"

Xavier, meanwhile, was organizing the blankets and pillows, muttering to himself about how the basement looked like a tornado had hit it, too. "How do you even make this much of a mess in one night?" he said, shaking his head.

"It's called surviving a storm," Xander quipped, still focused on his shadow puppets.

When the older brothers returned, arms full of supplies, Ella perked up. "Can I help?" she asked eagerly, her small hands reaching for the broom Lucas had brought.

"Of course," Lucas said, crouching down to her level. "But only if you promise to be careful, okay?"

Ella nodded solemnly, clutching the broom like it was her most important mission. She swept diligently, though her small arms struggled to move the heavier debris. The sight made the brothers smile despite the chaos around them.

As the family worked, a sudden thud from outside startled Ella. She dropped the broom, her eyes wide with fear. "What was that?" she whispered, clinging to Xander's leg.

Lucas was at the window in an instant, scanning the yard. "Just a branch," he said calmly. "Nothing to worry about."

Ella wasn't convinced, her small frame trembling. Xander scooped her up, bouncing her gently. "See? Just a silly tree branch. It's no match for us."

Ella buried her face in his shoulder, nodding slightly. The moment passed, but the tension lingered.

With the cleanup done, the family settled in the living room. Aiden brought out a stack of board games, while Noah found an old deck of cards. Ella sat between Xander and Xavier, her stuffed dog in her lap, as they played a round of Go Fish.

"Do you have any threes?" Xavier asked, trying to keep a straight face.

Ella grinned mischievously. "Go fish!" she exclaimed, giggling as Xavier groaned dramatically.

By the time the sun began to set, the house felt alive again, the earlier tension replaced with laughter and warmth.

As the evening wound down, Lucas tucked Ella into her bed, her stuffed dog tucked under her arm. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "You were very brave today," he said softly.

Ella yawned, her eyes drooping. "I wasn't scared 'cause you were here," she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.

Lucas smiled, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Sleep tight, little one."

Downstairs, the brothers sat together in the now-clean living room, the weight of the day settling over them. "We make a good team," Noah said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Lucas agreed, his gaze thoughtful. "But we've got to stay ready. Who knows what's coming next?"

The others nodded, a silent understanding passing between them. For now, the storm had passed, but they knew life had a way of throwing new challenges their way.

And they'd face them together.

Word Count: 920